In the vibrant heart of Seoul, a tale unfolds around a tight-knit group of friends: Jiwoon (aka Lolz), JK, Su, Mingyu, Tae, Seungcheol (aka Scoups), Jake, Eunwoo, and Gavin. Though they come from wealth and privilege, their lives are far from perfec...
"Lolo!" His voice rings out from behind as I stroll towards our school. I turn around, and there he is, the cutest boy in the world. Trust me, I'm pretty picky, so when I say he's the cutest and purest, y'all better believe it. I wave at him, urging him to hurry up, and he matches his pace with mine, slipping into a one-sided hug that makes my heart flutter. His scent is like a dream, something I'd gladly bottle up and keep forever. As we walk together towards school, our hands brush a couple of times, something that's been happening casually, but suddenly, it feels different. Ever since that summer break party, I've been feeling... things!
JK: "Lols, did you do your homework?" Me: "Umm, yes I did. You?" JK: "Yep, all sorted. Any struggles?" Me: "Nope, smooth sailing." Jk: "I tried calling you last night after I sent that funny post. Did you fall asleep early?" Me: "Yeah, I dozed off while reading a novel."
He pats my head, and we settle into our class. We have English, chemistry, and math together. I sit with my girl best friend, Su, who's like a sister to me. Just like JK and I have been buddies since nursery, Su and I go way back to the first grade. Su catches JK's sweet gesture, her eyes twinkling with curiosity. I play it cool, shrugging it off as if it's no big deal.
Professor Lee kicks off the lesson, but amidst the lecture, a folded paper sails my way from the back of the class. Su and I are right in the thick of it. JK sits nearby with his squad: Tae, Eunwoo, and Mingyu. While Jk remains oblivious, Tae and Eunwoo can't help but notice, their eyes flitting between me, the note, and Gavin, the messenger.
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Beneath the desk, I unfold the note:
"... hey cutie, wanna play COD together after school? ;)"
I shoot him a playful smirk, thinking, "Is that even a question?" It's been ages since our last gaming session due to exams. Now that they're out of the way, we can dive back in. I scribble the biggest "YES!!" and toss it back his way.
Tae and Eunwoo keep stealing glances my way, eager to know what's written on the note. But I'm too caught up in the lesson to reassure them it's nothing. They inform JK in the meantime. He stares at me for a few seconds, but it's Su who notices. She says he had a curious reaction after hearing what Eunwoo said. But he continues to focus on Mr. Lee.
As the class progresses, Ms. Hyu, the principal's assistant, makes an appearance with an important announcement: it's time to choose extracurricular activities. The excitement in the air is palpable as class wraps up.
Su and I make our way to lunch, joined by Gavin, JK, and the gang. We chat about activity choices as we stroll to the cafeteria. Tae's stomach growls in agreement, and JK's hand finds its way to my shoulder as we share a laugh at Mingyu's latest joke.
But the scorching heat outside leaves me with little appetite, so I opt for some refreshing fruits and my favorite ginseng and strawberry juices. I didn't think JK, Gavin, or Tae noticed, but they soon inquired about my empty plate.
